NameCensus.

UK surname

Villanueva

A habitational surname referring to someone from any of various towns named Villanueva, meaning "new town" in Spanish.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Villanueva surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 345, ranked #13,321, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redbridge, Hammersmith and Fulham and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Villanueva is 345 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34400.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

345

2016, ranked #13,321

Peak year

2016

345 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Villanueva had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016, ranked #13,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Villanueva surname distribution map

The map shows where the Villanueva surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Villanueva surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Villanueva over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 80 #29,554
1998 modern 81 #29,849
1999 modern 90 #29,056
2000 modern 93 #28,701
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 90 #29,314
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 152 #21,721
2007 modern 153 #21,912
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 280 #15,248
2013 modern 298 #14,815
2014 modern 320 #14,181
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 345 #13,321

Geography

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Where Villanuevas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redbridge, Hammersmith and Fulham, Central Bedfordshire, Croydon and Waltham Forest. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redbridge 027 Redbridge
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 001 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Central Bedfordshire 026 Central Bedfordshire
4 Croydon 013 Croydon
5 Waltham Forest 009 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Villanueva

These lists show first names that appear often with the Villanueva surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Villanueva

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Villanueva, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Villanueva surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Villanueva household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Villanueva is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Villanueva is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Villanueva falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Villanueva is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Villanueva, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Villanueva

The surname Villanueva originates from Spain and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Spanish words 'villa' meaning 'town' and 'nueva' meaning 'new', suggesting that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a new town or village.

The name first appeared in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura, where many of the earliest recorded examples can be found. In the 13th century, the name was documented in various records, including the Libro de los Fueros de Cáceres, a collection of laws and privileges granted to the town of Cáceres.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Villanueva was Rodrigo Villanueva, a Spanish nobleman who lived in the late 13th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Alfonso X of Castile and León.

In the 15th century, the name Villanueva was associated with the town of Villanueva de la Serena in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura. This town was founded in the 13th century and served as an important agricultural and trading center, which may have contributed to the widespread use of the surname in the region.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals bore the surname Villanueva. One of them was Juan de Villanueva, a renowned Spanish architect born in 1739 and known for designing the Prado Museum in Madrid, among other notable buildings.

Another prominent figure was Antonio de Villanueva y Franquesa, a Spanish military engineer and architect born in 1714. He played a significant role in the construction of several fortifications and military buildings in Spain and the Americas.

In the 19th century, the surname Villanueva was carried by Joaquín Villanueva, a Spanish politician and writer born in 1765. He served as a deputy in the Cortes of Cádiz and was a prominent figure during the Spanish War of Independence against Napoleonic France.

Throughout its history, the surname Villanueva has been associated with various place names in Spain, such as Villanueva del Arzobispo, Villanueva de la Reina, and Villanueva de la Serena, reflecting the origins and spread of the name across different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Villanueva families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Villanueva surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Hertfordshire leads with 1 Villanuevas recorded in 1881 and an index of 151.52x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 1 151.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hertford St John in Hertfordshire leads with 1 Villanuevas recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Hertford St John 1 10000.00x

FAQ

Villanueva surname: questions and answers

How common was the Villanueva surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Villanueva surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Villanueva surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 345 in 2016. That gives Villanueva a modern rank of #13,321.

What does the Villanueva surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from any of various towns named Villanueva, meaning "new town" in Spanish.

What does the Villanueva map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Villanueva bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.